Written Answers Thursday 21 April 2005

Scottish Executive

Agriculture

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has introduced to target ecologically-sensitive areas with regard to organic farming.

Ross Finnie: Since 1994, the Scottish Office and Scottish Executive have operated an Organic Aid Scheme (OAS) which is part of the Scottish Rural Development Plan, supporting the conversion of land to organic status. This scheme was introduced as a means of securing the environmental benefits of organic conversion. Our aim is to support the accelerated growth of organic farming where this can make the best contribution to environmental sustainability.

  The Rural Stewardship Scheme, which is also part of the Scottish Rural Development Plan, helps ensure that farming is a lead player in the protection and enhancement of our environment. The scheme, which is open to organic farmers, is designed to encourage farmers, crofters and common grazings committees to adopt environmentally friendly practices and to maintain and enhance particular habitats, features and areas of high ecological value.

Agriculture

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has introduced to encourage exchanges of technical information between farmers with regard to organic farming.

Ross Finnie: The Executive provides funding in the region of £234,000 per annum for the Scottish Agricultural Colleges (SAC) Advisory Activities in support of the Organic Aid Scheme (OAS) and Organic Farming.

  Executive funding supports: telephone advice (including the SAC Organic Helpline); farm walks and technical meetings based on a network of six demonstration farms; technical publications, and the SAC organic farming website. For more detailed individually-tailored advice, SAC offers a charged consultancy service.

  This programme of activity is offered through a group of 20 organic advisers located at SAC’s network of advisory offices, backed up by a Senior Organic Farming Specialist and a group of subject specialists.

Agriculture

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has introduced to ensure the traceability and authenticity of organic farming products.

Ross Finnie: The Organic Products Regulations 2004 which are applied throughout the United Kingdom provide for the continued administration, execution and enforcement of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products.

  The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is designated as the inspection authority responsible for the inspection system under Regulation 2092/91. DEFRA is also authorised to act on behalf of Scottish ministers in respect of any functions exercisable by them as the authority responsible for the operation of the inspection system, the approval and supervision of inspection bodies. Each local authority remains responsible for enforcing within its area the requirement relating to the labelling of organic products.

Agriculture

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has introduced to ensure the use of the European Commission organic logo in Scotland.

Ross Finnie: In March 2000, the European Commission introduced a logo through Commission Regulation (EC) 331/2000 bearing the words "Organic Farming – EC Control System" to be used on a voluntary basis by producers whose systems and products have been found on inspection to satisfy EU Regulations. As this is on a voluntary basis, the Scottish Executive have not introduced measures to ensure the use of this logo.

  As you will be aware, the actions set up under Action 1 (information and promotion campaigns) and Action 19 (more extensive use of logo on imported products) of the European Organic Action Plan will facilitate more extensive use of the EU logo.

Agriculture

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it has introduced to harmonise experimental methods, control procedures, supervision and authorisation of producers in respect of organic farming.

Ross Finnie: The Organic Products Regulations 2004 which are applied throughout the United Kingdom provide for the continued administration, execution and enforcement of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products.

  The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is designated as the inspection authority responsible for the inspection system under Regulation 2092/91. DEFRA is also authorised to act on behalf of Scottish ministers in respect of any functions exercisable by them as the authority responsible for the operation of the inspection system, the approval and supervision of inspection bodies.

Agriculture

Ms Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what levels of funding have been made available for (a) research, (b) product quality, (c) development of new products and manufacturing methods, (d) environmental sustainability and (e) comparative studies of products in respect of organic farming and traditional farming respectively in each of the last five years.

Ross Finnie: The levels of funding which have been made available by the Scottish Executive in respect of organic farming and traditional farming in the respective areas questioned in each of the last five years is as follows:

  (a) Research including (e) Comparative studies:

  

Year
Organic Spend (£)
Total Spend (£)


2000-01
258,567
35,534,000


2001-02
453,367
41,542,000


2002-03
546,676
43,479,000


2003-04
606,977
44,801,000


2004-05
520,150
45,211,000



  (b) Product quality and (c) development of new products and manufacturing methods:

  

Year
Organic Spend (£)
Total Spend (£)


2001
18,819
18,819


2002
773,608
3,640,051


2003
1,138,998
4,754,463


2004
1,516,584
3,750,280


2005*
290,028
830,243



  Notes:

  "b" & "c" are not separately identified in our figures.

  *Denotes spend to date.

  (d) Environmental sustainability:

  The budget allocations for agri-environment schemes (including the Organic Aid Scheme) are programmed in the Scottish Rural Development Plan. These allocations can be seen in the web link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/rural/srdpv4-13.asp

  It should be noted that organic farmers are also eligible to apply for funding under the Rural Stewardship Scheme and other agri-environment schemes as well as the Organic Aid Scheme.

Antisocial Behaviour

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of antisocial behaviour orders granted to local authorities have been breached in each year since 1999.

Hugh Henry: Tentative data on breaches of antisocial behaviour orders granted in local authority areas is available for 2003-04. During this period, 213 orders were in force and 144 (67%) were allegedly breached during the year. However, the independent researchers who collated this data for the Scottish Executive have advised that confusion over the term "breach" during the research means that this finding must be treated with extreme caution. The lack of robust data means that it is not possible to provide a reliable breakdown on a local authority basis for 2003-04. A further survey will be undertaken this summer which should clarify the position for 2004-05.

Antisocial Behaviour

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive which parties, other than local authorities, have applied for antisocial behaviour orders.

Hugh Henry: Before June 2003 only local authorities had the power to apply for antisocial behaviour orders in Scotland. Registered Social Landlords (housing associations) were given the power in June 2003 by the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2003.

  Registered Social Landlords were responsible for 25 antisocial behaviour orders in 2003-04 which is 11% of the total applied for during this period.

Antisocial Behaviour

Mr Stewart Maxwell (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many antisocial behaviour orders were issued in each local authority area in each of the last five years up to the end of the financial year 2004-05.

Hugh Henry: I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-11134 on 28 October 2004. This answer provides the requested information up to the end of 2003-04. A survey will be undertaken in the summer which will identify the number of antisocial behaviour orders issued in each local authority in 2004-05. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Cancer

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that women are offered breast cancer screening as soon as possible after their 50th birthday.

Rhona Brankin: There is a national computerised call-recall system in place which ensures that eligible women, who are registered with a general practitioner and are in the age range 50 to 69 (64 where age extension has not been implemented) years are invited for breast screening every three years.

  To ensure that all eligible women are called and recalled at a three-year interval the SBSP has an invitation policy of calling/recalling by a GP. GPs hold current registration details for women in their practice and SBSP systematically calls women in the eligible age range, practice by practice. Therefore each practice in Scotland is called once every three years and depending when that occurs a woman will be invited for the first time when she is 50, 51 or 52 years old.

  At any point in time should a woman feel there is a change in their breast or have any concerns they should see their GP to decide whether a referral to the symptomatic service is required.

Central Heating

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to any concerns that pensioners and others who have had oil-fired central heating installed under the warm deal initiative face higher heating bills than for their previous heating systems.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Heating bills may increase after installation of a new central heating system on the programme, but these increases must be viewed alongside the increase in heat and warmth in the property that a new central heating system affords. And, when a new central heating system is installed the property is eligible to receive all the available insulation measures from loft insulation, cavity fill, pipe and tank insulation, draughtproofing and low energy light bulbs.

  We would encourage recipients of assistance on the central heating programme, who are concerned about their fuel bills, to contact the Executive to discuss their concerns. They may also be advised to contact Energywatch to establish whether they are paying a competitive price for their fuel.

Central Heating

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice on future heating bills it offers to pensioners and others considering having oil-fired central heating installed under the warm deal initiative.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Eaga Partnership Ltd, which administers the central heating programme on behalf of the Executive, provides energy advice to all applicants on the programme before and after their new central heating systems are installed. This advice, provided by trained assessors, comprises: comparisons of the central heating systems available on the programme, advice on different fuel tariffs and suppliers, practical help for effective use of the system and energy saving tips to reduce fuel costs.

Central Heating

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the efficiency of oil-fired central heating systems provided under the warm deal initiative compared to other central heating systems provided under the initiative.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  The technical specification for the central heating programme requires that all new oil-fired boilers installed on the programme have a Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK (SEDBUK) rating of at least 80%. This is comparable with the specification requirement that all new gas boiler have a SEDBUK seasonal efficiency rating of at least 78%. The oil boilers available on the Programme have a maximum SEDBUK rating of 85.7%, comparable with gas boilers that have a maximum SEDBUK rating of 82.1%.

Central Heating

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will respond to any concerns raised by pensioners and others who live in rural areas who have less choice in respect of choosing heating systems under the warm deal initiative as a result of not having access to natural gas supplies.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Where available, applicants have the option of either gas, electric oil or solid fuel central heating. Therefore, in areas where gas supplies are not available, an applicant may have the option of a new electric, oil or solid fuel central heating system.

  We would encourage any applicant with concerns about the central heating systems available to them to contact the Eaga Partnership or the Executive to discuss their options.

Children with Disabilities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons are for any lack of equitable provision of specialist equipment for disabled people, in particular for children with complex needs, broken down by local authority area.

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how NHS boards measure whether the allocation of specialist equipment specifically for disabled children is needs-led.

Rhona Brankin: It is for each board and local authority to decide how best to apportion the resources available so as to best meet the needs of the whole population within its area of responsibility.

  The Executive has commissioned NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) to look at possible options for redesign of the NHS wheelchair service in Scotland. The review will identify the needs of all people using the service and make recommendations in consultation with stakeholders on how the service might be improved.

Children with Disabilities

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated for specialist equipment for children with complex needs in (a) 1999, (b) 2000, (c) 2001, (d) 2002, (e) 2003 and (f) 2004, broken down by NHS board area.

Rhona Brankin: This information is not held centrally.

Council Tax

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what practical difficulties it has encountered in assessing the suitability of local income tax as a means of replacing the council tax.

Tavish Scott: The independent review we have set up will be undertaking a full investigation into the council tax and other possible tax models, including any practical difficulties. The committee’s report is due next summer and it would be inappropriate to comment before then. This is an important issue and we want to make sure that the right system is in place for local government finance.

Council Tax

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it expects council tax revaluation to affect the residents of Edinburgh.

Tavish Scott: We have no plans for a council tax revaluation pending the outcome of the independent review we set up into local taxation.

Education

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to remove the rights of parents to sit on school boards.

Peter Peacock: On the contrary, we are consulting on proposals to enhance the rights of parents to be represented and have their views heard and taken account of. It would be for the parents in each school to decide in future whether their representative body should be called a "school board" or something else.

Education

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the adult/pupil ratio is in schools and how this compares with 1999.

Peter Peacock: In 2003 local authorities reported the pupil:adult ratio in primary schools as 13.1, a reduction from 15.9 in 1999. Pupil adult ratios were not collected in secondary or special schools until 2003, and no comparison can therefore be made at this time.

Employment

Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the New Deal has had on improving youth employment figures.

Allan Wilson: Employment policy is reserved to the UK Government which takes the lead on funding and delivery of the New Deal.

  According to Department for Work and Pensions data, since New Deal began 65,510 young people in Scotland have moved into jobs, of which 78% have been sustained. The claimant count for those aged 18-24 and claiming for over six months had reduced by 77% between April 1997 and March 2005.

Environment

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities have a public register of contaminated land as required under the new statutory contaminated land regime.

Lewis Macdonald: All local authorities are required by section 78R of Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to keep a public register. Section 78R(1) specifies what material is to be in the register, with the detail prescribed in the Contaminated Land (Scotland) Regulations 2000.

Fisheries

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been involved in any negotiations to provide Scottish-registered fishing vessels with licences to fish in non-EU waters.

Ross Finnie: Yes. The Scottish Executive is routinely involved in the annual negotiations that provide Scottish registered fishing vessels with licences to fish in Norwegian, Icelandic and Faroese waters, across a range of established fisheries.

Health

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to make funding available to NHS boards for the employment of nurses specialising in Parkinson’s Disease or for training to allow nurses to become specialists in this area.

Mr Andy Kerr: The planning of the workforce to deliver first class health services - including specialist Parkinson’s nurses - to patients in Scotland is primarily a matter for individual NHS boards.

  All NHS organisations also have responsibility for nursing and midwifery post-registration education and work in partnership with staff to ensure that they are supported and encouraged to maintain and develop their skills. The Scottish Executive also remains committed to building the capacity of the NHSScotland workforce and under the Facing the Future banner has committed over £10 million to a number of nursing and midwifery initiatives in the last three financial years. This includes specific funding for continuous professional development along with other more targeted funded initiatives.

Health

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what research has been carried out into benefits in patient care and cost savings arising from the employment of Parkinson’s Disease Nurse Specialists.

Mr Andy Kerr: Specialist nursing roles are relatively new in Scotland and as such published literature on outcomes is limited. We are not aware of any specific research that has quantified both the benefits to care and the cost effectiveness of Parkinson’s Disease nursing in Scotland.

  NHS Grampian and NHS Tayside are testing these new roles as part of the CCI Outpatients Programme and data collected from these projects will inform the evidence base.

Health

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was allocated to Aberdeenshire Council in 2002-03 from the Health Improvement Fund and for what purposes this money was allocated.

Rhona Brankin: The Health Improvement Fund (HIF) was established for a four-year period (2000-04), to provide additional funding to NHS boards for health improvement activities. No HIF resources were directly allocated to local authorities, however NHS boards do work in partnership on health improvement with local authorities and others.

  As I indicated in my reply to the answer to question S2W-13047 on 18 January 2005, full details about the Health Improvement Fund allocations made to NHS boards were given in the 2002 publication Putting the Pieces in Place, a copy of which is available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. number 19606) or on the Scottish Executive website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library3/health/shif-00.asp.

Health

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisations are involved in the "Have a Heart Paisley" National Health Demonstration Project.

Rhona Brankin: Have a Heart Paisley, the national health demonstration project was established in 2000 and funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department. During their first and transition phases, Have a Heart Paisley worked with a wide range of partners – these included NHS Argyll and Clyde (primary care, secondary care and public health), the University of Glasgow, Renfrewshire Council, Paisley Partnership, as well as large number of local community organisations.

  In phase two, which I launched on 14 March and is also funded by the Scottish Executive Health Department, Have a Heart Paisley’s partners will be NHS Argyll and Clyde, Renfrewshire Council, Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership; the Community Planning Partnership, and a wide range of local community and voluntary organisations.

Health

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it is evaluating the success of the Joint Futures initiative in each local authority area.

Rhona Brankin: The Scottish Executive formally assesses progress on Joint Future through the annual Joint Performance Information and Assessment Framework. This covers delivery on the four National Outcomes through Local Improvement Targets, on Single Shared Assessment, and on key underpinning developments such as joint resourcing and access to resources.

  In addition to the formal assessment, I am undertaking a series of joint visits with the President of COSLA to establish progress on joint working and reinforce the importance of better outcomes for people who use services and their carers.

  In 2006-07, we plan to evaluate formally the impact of the Joint Future initiative.

Housing

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to introduce homestead schemes similar to those piloted in England and Wales.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has no plans to promote homestead schemes similar to those piloted in England and Wales. There is already experience of homesteading in Scotland. Glasgow District Council introduced homesteading, in Easterhouse, in 1981. Analysis of the long-term effects of the initiative has shown that it was unsuccessful.

Housing

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has received, or made to the UK Government, regarding the impact of the introduction of the Gas Work Notification Scheme on the housing market and what studies the Executive has undertaken to determine the economic impact that the scheme will have on gas installation services and businesses in Scotland.

Allan Wilson: The Gas Work Notification Scheme is being introduced by CORGI (the Council for Registered Gas Installers) as a part of the registration scheme they operate. Subject to limited exceptions, under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, employers and self-employed persons must be in membership of CORGI if they carry out gas installation work.

  The Executive has received four representations on this issue. Representations have also been received by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) and some UK ministers. The Executive has not made any formal representation to the UK Government nor has it undertaken any studies to determine the economic impact. My officials have been in contact with HSE officials to discuss how to reply to representations. We have recently been advised that APHC (the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors) is taking action preparatory to a judicial review involving CORGI.

Human Rights

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it envisages the relationship between a European Fundamental Rights Agency and a Scottish Human Rights Commission would operate.

Hugh Henry: We expect the proposed Scottish Human Rights Commission to come into contact with a wide range of organisations. It would be up to the commission to develop contacts, as appropriate, with such organisations, which could include a European Fundamental Rights Agency should such a body be established.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of antisocial behaviour orders have been breached in each (a) local authority area and (b) sheriff court district in each year since 1999.

Hugh Henry: (a) I refer the member to the answer to question S2W-15528 on 21 April 2005. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  (b) Information on convictions where the offence involved breach of an antisocial behaviour order is provided by court area in the following table. 1The figures refer to numbers of cases3.

  Breach of Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Charges Proved in Scottish Courts - 1999 to 2003

  

Sheriff Court 
1999
2000
2001
2002
20032


Aberdeen 
-
-
4
18
17


Airdrie
-
-
-
3
3


Arbroath
-
-
-
-
2


Ayr 
-
-
-
-
1


Cupar
-
-
1
5
-


Dumbarton
-
-
1
-
-


Dundee 
-
-
-
6
2


Dunfermline 
-
2
1
3
6


Edinburgh 
1
5
20
4
4


Glasgow 
-
5
6
1
1


Hamilton 
-
-
-
-
4


Kirkcaldy
-
-
-
5
5


Oban
-
-
1
-
-


Peebles
-
-
1
-
-


Peterhead
-
-
1
1
-


Selkirk
-
2
-
2
2


Stirling 
-
-
-
-
2


Tain
-
-
-
-
2


Total1
1
15
37
51
51



  Notes:

  1. Includes a small number of High Court and District Court cases.

  2. Provisional data.

  3. It is not possible to calculate the percentage of orders breached from this data as ASBOs may be breached more than once in an individual case and/or an ASBO may be breached and not lead to court action.

Justice

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-14302, S2W-14303 and S2W-14830 by Cathy Jamieson and Rhona Brankin on 9 March, 7 March and 14 March 2005 respectively, what steps are taken to verify that the restraint is lawful before treatment is carried out.

Rhona Brankin: The answer in S2W-14302 outlines the range of agencies that can use physical restraint. As the answer states, the legal authority underpinning the use of restraint equipment depends on the circumstances. The steps taken to verify whether restraint is appropriate or should be requested to be removed prior to treatment is a matter of professional judgement based on risk.

Justice

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been taken into care as a result of their mother’s imprisonment in each of the last five years.

Euan Robson: The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many outstanding apprehension warrants relating to violent offenders there were in each police force area in each year since 1999.

Colin Boyd QC: This information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many persons had a charge proved for the miscellaneous offences (a) common assault, (b) breach of the peace, (c) drunkenness, (d) breach of social work orders and (e) other offences in each year since 1997, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for Selected Offences1, by Police Force Area, 1997-2003

  

Offence/Police Force Area 
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
20033


Common assault 
 


Central 
634
550
539
604
628
721
728


Dumfries and Galloway
357
301
337
270
289
309
400


Fife 
703
586
574
488
684
633
625


Grampian 
1,309
1,317
1,100
966
1,085
1,165
1,320


Lothian and Borders 
2,015
2,005
1,727
1,683
1,592
1,868
1,786


Northern 
717
672
648
572
653
685
821


Strathclyde 
5,820
5,548
4,923
4,671
4,828
4,726
5,153


Tayside 
900
973
1,038
988
1,086
1,190
1,199


Total
12,455
11,952
10,886
10,242
10,845
11,297
12,032


Breach of the peace 
 


Central 
946
827
626
664
750
798
809


Dumfries and Galloway
451
411
438
340
347
301
372


Fife 
851
768
610
564
582
626
585


Grampian 
1,427
1,433
1,091
950
974
952
1,075


Lothian and Borders 
2,365
2,344
1,820
1,656
1,712
1,886
1,653


Northern 
1,124
1,078
843
793
835
831
920


Strathclyde 
10,772
9,759
7,548
6,911
7,097
7,252
7,704


Tayside 
1,480
1,489
1,422
1,348
1,478
1,478
1,615


Total
19,416
18,109
14,398
13,226
13,775
14,124
14,733


Drunkenness
 


Central 
22
12
6
7
2
4
4


Dumfries and Galloway
21
-
3
-
-
-
1


Fife 
18
8
7
2
5
3
10


Grampian 
39
38
22
22
13
8
17


Lothian and Borders 
51
41
20
18
26
28
22


Northern 
246
224
159
138
104
140
135


Strathclyde 
514
383
246
227
191
184
203


Tayside 
17
19
15
20
30
17
19


Total
928
725
478
434
371
384
411


Breach of social work orders
 


Central 
138
184
175
194
316
345
351


Dumfries and Galloway
105
111
126
161
180
152
267


Fife 
509
500
480
386
467
499
530


Grampian 
329
355
411
518
408
416
124


Lothian and Borders 
437
511
552
615
636
724
895


Northern 
149
187
154
147
82
211
256


Strathclyde 
1,501
1,748
2,033
2,110
1,675
1,931
865


Tayside 
386
584
633
560
677
696
697


Total
3,554
4,180
4,564
4,691
4,4462
4,974
3,985


Other offences 
 


Central 
301
226
136
290
316
288
454


Dumfries and Galloway
181
158
115
62
66
71
64


Fife 
242
153
104
198
180
145
234


Grampian 
829
553
325
444
378
335
428


Lothian and Borders 
1,097
736
345
397
340
446
672


Northern 
754
420
222
235
280
302
302


Strathclyde 
5,015
4,039
2,557
2,684
2,977
3,062
4,516


Tayside 
730
331
372
538
430
573
560


Total
9,149
6,616
4,176
4,8492
4,967
5,222
7,230



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes a small number of cases where force is unknown.

  3. Includes estimated data.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether contempt of court committed by publication of statements on the internet would constitute computer-related crime for the purposes of the European Arrest Warrant.

Colin Boyd QC: I can of course only answer this question from the perspective of Scots Law: other jurisdictions will define computer related crime according to their own domestic legal systems.

  However, the position in Scots Law is that it is likely that any publication of statements on the internet which was in contempt of court, would be prosecuted in Scotland as a contempt of court. There may additionally be offences related to the use of computers but a charge either at common law or under the Contempt of Court Act 1981 is the more likely outcome. Contempt of court is not one of the crimes listed in the European Arrest Warrant Framework Decision, and as a result, it would be necessary to establish dual criminality before extradition proceedings could be commenced.

Justice

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many European Arrest Warrants (EAWs) have been issued (a) in respect of persons domiciled in Scotland and (b) by Scottish authorities in each quarter since the introduction of EAWs.

Colin Boyd QC: The Crown Office has received five European Arrest Warrants in respect of persons apparently domiciled in Scotland. In addition Scottish authorities have issued the following European Arrest Warrants since the measure was introduced namely:

  (i) 1 January – 31 March 2004 – two EAWs.

  (ii) 1 April – 30 June, five EAWs.

  (iii) 1 July – 30 September seven EAWs.

  (iv) 1 October – 31 December no EAWs.

  (v) 1 January – 31 March 2005 one EAW.

Justice

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-13580 by Cathy Jamieson on 28 January 2005, what percentage of recorded incidents of assault of a police officer resulted in convictions in each year from 1994 to 2004, broken down by police force area.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information on convictions relates to offences under section 41(1)(a) of the Police (Scotland) Act 1967. This section of the 1967 act provides that any person who "assaults, resists, obstructs molests or hinders a constable…" shall be guilty of an offence. Offences which specifically involve an assault on a police officer can not generally be identified separately from other section 41(1)(a) offences in the data held centrally. Similarly, other assaults on police officers which may result in other charges such as serious assault or attempted murder can not be identified separately in the available statistics. It is not therefore possible to make like with like comparisons between the number of convictions and the number of recorded incidents from the data held centrally.

Legal Aid

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of legal aid is available to individuals and communities wishing to bring cases against polluters.

Hugh Henry: Under the Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 1986, legal aid can be made available only to individuals not to community groups or communities. Cases against polluters may involve either civil or criminal action.

  Individuals and communities cannot bring criminal prosecutions. Criminal prosecutions can only be brought by the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service as it has the sole responsibility for instituting criminal prosecutions in Scotland. Prosecutions may arise from reports by outside organisations with statutory responsibility for matters in relation to pollution. Criminal legal aid may be available for any person who is the subject of such a prosecution.

  Civil legal aid may be made available to an individual if the three statutory tests of financial eligibility, probable cause and reasonableness are met as is the case with any civil legal aid application.

  Further statutory considerations apply to civil legal aid applications if there are others that have a joint interest in the proceedings. The Scottish Legal Aid Board can grant civil legal aid only if the refusal of legal aid would cause severe prejudice to the individual applicant and it would not be reasonable to expect others that might have an interest in the action to defray the costs that otherwise fall to be paid under the grant of civil legal aid.

Legal Aid

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prosecutions have been brought against polluters since 1999 by individuals and communities in receipt of legal aid.

Rosie Kane (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many potential prosecutions against polluters brought by individuals and communities have been refused legal aid since 1999.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Legal Aid Board does not record information in this format.

Mental Health

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently diagnosed with depression, broken down by (a) age and (b) gender.

Mr Andy Kerr: The exact number of people diagnosed with depression in Scotland is not available centrally. However, national estimates of the numbers of people consulting for depression can be given based on the number of patients seen for the condition in general medical practices participating in PTI (Practice Team Information). PTI data are obtained from a sample of Scottish general practices whose population is broadly nationally representative of the Scottish population in terms of age, sex, deprivation category and rural/urban mix.

  The estimated number of patients seen in general practices in Scotland for depression, based on PTI data, is as follows.

  Estimated Number of Patients seen for Depression, by Age Group and Gender, Year Ending 31 March 2004

  

Age Group 
(Years)
Males
Females


0-14
300
500


15-24
9,300
24,000


25-44
39,500
83,800


45-64
28,400
57,000


65-74
5,100
11,500


75-84
2,600
7,200


85 and over
800
1,900


Total
86,000
185,900

Nuclear Waste

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what involvement it will have in the review of low-level radioactive waste management policy recently announced by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and what the review involves.

Ross Finnie: The review of policy for the long-term management of the UK’s low-level radioactive waste (LLW) has been agreed by the Scottish ministers and ministers of the UK government and the other devolved administrations.

  LLW is generated by a wide range of activities involving the use of radioactive substances. They include the operation of nuclear reactors, the operation of other nuclear processing facilities, the decommissioning and clean up of nuclear sites, non-nuclear industrial activities, the medical use of radioactive materials, and research and educational activities.

  While relatively low, the level of radioactivity in LLW can span a very wide range (about five orders of magnitude). Not least because of this, it has been managed in a number of ways in the past: using the national disposal facility at Drigg in Cumbria, using various forms of disposal on the nuclear site on which the waste was generated, using controlled burial to landfill and, for small quantities of very low-level waste, through disposal with other ordinary refuse.

  With many nuclear sites and facilities moving into their decommissioning phase, and with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) being set up to deal with this, it has been increasingly recognised that there will be a very large volume of LLW to be dealt with.

  The proposed policy review will consider how best to use those forms of long term management that already exist and in particular:

  the best use of the Drigg facility;

  the merits of transporting LLW from its source of origin, and

  the relative advantages of on site disposal as opposed to controlled burial to landfill offsite.

  The aim is to identify a policy framework, which will update that set out in the 1995 White Paper Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Final Conclusions (Cm2919) to cover the future management of LLW, notably by the NDA. It will set out the broad requirements and principles within which future management decisions will be made. The initial stages are being overseen by a steering group drawn from the Government’s Radioactive Waste Policy Group (RWPG). RWPG, on which the Executive is represented, is made up of UK Government, devolved administrations and regulatory body representatives and meets regularly, several times a year, to discuss radioactive waste management policy and regulatory issues.

  The steering group consists of representatives of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI), the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Scottish Executive, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the Environment Agency (EA), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and the NDA. It is jointly chaired by Defra and the NDA and meetings are also attended by representatives of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd (BNFL), the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), British Energy (BEn) and GE Healthcare and UK Nirex to assist with the preparation of data on the types and volumes of waste to be dealt with, University College London (UCL) who have been appointed as the independent facilitators for two stakeholder workshops to be held during the course of 2005 and Atkins who are providing more general technical support to the work. The steering group’s remit is to provide draft consultation material for RWPG to consider by October/November 2005 so that revised policy proposals can be issued around the turn of the year.

  The LLW review will be carried out in parallel with the work of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which is assessing options for the long-term management of the UK’s higher activity wastes. However, the LLW review is about how best to apply existing options for long-term management, unlike CoRWM’s work which is seeking to identify options for long-term management of the higher activity wastes. RWPG will ensure that those managing the LLW review take account of the work of CoRWM.

Procurement

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that the procurement policies of local and national government bodies interpret best value to include taking account of the benefits to the community from developing local community enterprises.

Tavish Scott: This summer we will publish the "Commissioners’ Guide" which will highlight to the public sector the benefits of contracting with local community enterprises and how this can help the public sector meet its Best Value obligations. This guidance will support the Futurebuilders Scotland Programme, which aims to extend and strengthen the role of the social economy sector in delivering better public services.

  In addition, the guidance Best Value: Making Choices advises local authorities of a number of steps they can take to support local small and medium-sized enterprises without compromising fairness in the award of a contract. These include paying invoices from small and medium-size businesses quickly, advertising all contract opportunities in regular newsletters supplied to all local businesses and providing training sessions on "how to bid for council contracts".

Schools

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what support will be offered to schools applying to be Schools of Ambition but not selected to participate in the programme.

Peter Peacock: We will continue to work with those that don’t make the first tranche to explore their potential for joining the programme at a later date.

Schools

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the criteria for selection in the Schools of Ambition programme.

Peter Peacock: Local authorities were invited to submit bids which outlined a strong vision of future success, ambition, commitment and a convincing case for change. They were asked to provide a statement of:

  Vision: a picture of what will be achieved over the transformation period and what success will look like;

  Impact: how the transformation process will engage pupils, staff, parents and other key stakeholders, and what outcomes will be delivered for them, and;

  Action: the key elements of the transformation.

  The initial assessment of the bids was made on the basis of the above information. Schools will now be visited and have their plans intensively scrutinised before a decision is made on which are ready to become the first Schools of Ambition.

Scottish Criminal Record Office

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what checks are now made on fingerprint evidence prepared by the Scottish Criminal Record Office prior to it being submitted for actual or potential use in (a) a police investigation or (b) court.

Cathy Jamieson: Fingerprint identifications by the Scottish Fingerprint Service, which is part of the Scottish Criminal Record Office, are undertaken using robust verification procedures. The processes used are subject to internal quality assurance and to external independent auditing under the ISO9001: 2000 Certificate which the Scottish Fingerprint Service is accredited to.

  When a match is made by a fingerprint officer the comparison is subject to separate verification by two further fingerprint officers. Only after the verification procedure is complete will an identification be intimated to the police investigating officer and the Procurator Fiscal Service for their consideration in any court proceedings.

Scottish Executive Funding

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15179 by Patricia Ferguson on 22 March 2005, whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding provided by the lead applicant and its funding partners for each of the projects.

Patricia Ferguson: This information is set out in the table.

  

Lead Applicant
Project
Contribution From
Total Contribution by Lead Partner and its Other Funding Partners*


Lead Applicant
Other Funding Partners*


Falkirk Council
Westfield Stadium
£5,000,000**
-
£5,000,000


Stirling Council: 
Forthbank
£17,000,000**
£1,500,000
£18,500,000


City of Edinburgh Council: 
Sighthill Park
Amount being reviewed
 
£44,000,000


Hunters Hall
Amount being reviewed
 
£26,000,000


Royal Commonwealth Pool
Amount being reviewed
 
£27,000,000


Aberdeen City Council: 
Linksfield
£6,000,000
£6,000,000***
£17,000,000


Glasgow City Council:
East End

£15,000,000

-
£15,000,000


Scotstoun
£7,000,000
-
£7,000,000


Toryglen
£8,000,000
-
£8,000,000


North Lanarkshire Council
Ravenscraig
£8,200,000
£5,000,000
£13,200,000



  Notes:

  *This excludes the contribution by the Executive and sportscotland which is already covered in the answer to S2W-15548 (answered on 21 April 2005).

  **Exact amount to be confirmed.

  ***Balance to be confirmed.

Sport

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15179 by Patricia Ferguson on 22 March 2005, whether it will provide a breakdown of the funding provided by the (a) Exchequer and (b) Lottery Sports Fund for each project and the source of the Exchequer funding.

Patricia Ferguson: A total of £28.8 million of Exchequer funding is being invested in the National and Regional Sports Facilities Strategy. That funding was announced following the outcome of the 2002 Spending Review.

  No specific allocation of Exchequer and Lottery funds has been made at this stage to the 10 projects that progressed to stage two.

Sport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it or its agencies have on the number of (a) playing fields and (b) artificial turf pitches that there are; if no such information is available, whether there are plans to collate it in future, and what the reasons are for its position on the matter.

Patricia Ferguson: The information requested is not held centrally. However, it is estimated that there are around 5,900 playing fields and sports pitches in Scotland.

  Scottish Executive Planning advice and guidance encourages local authorities to prepare playing field and open space strategies. Sportscotland is working with a number of local authorities on the preparation of playing field strategies. These strategies will identify the number and type of playing fields. Sportscotland stands ready to assist other local authorities.